Escalating Sino-American great power competition has fundamentally reshaped global geopolitics, thrusting Europe into a strategic crossfire. No longer merely an economic partner, the European continent is now a central battleground where political influence, supply chain resilience, and technological dominance are contested. This panel brings together scholars from leading European universities to analyze the intertwined dynamics of this competition, focusing specifically on how it plays out across critical technology sectors. The discussion will explore the tension between maintaining strategic autonomy, pursuing economic and political interests, and the need for renewed transatlantic alignment, dissecting the EU’s complex role as both a player and a battleground. The panel will transition from broader IR expertise on EU-China-US relations to case studies probing EU’s role in international negotiations and the geopolitical leverage of technology, such as sectoral typologies underpinning Chinese economic statecraft. The discussion will pivot to the security and commercial implications of critical sectors such as telecommunications (5G), electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, rare earths, and semiconductors. The goal is to foster a stimulating exchange, bringing a European perspective on a global issue directly to Asia, that not only maps the current geopolitical terrain but also assesses the agency and policy options available to European governments and institutions with implications relevant for other countries and regional alliances in Asia to navigate external influences from great powers.
This panel will feature a balanced mix of expertise, ensuring diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and by actively including junior and Ph.D. scholars alongside senior academics.

Authors:
Ivan Zaccagnini, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Yasuhiro Izumikawa, Aoyama Gakuin University, Japan
Silvia Menegazzi, LUISS Guido Carli University, Italy
Hong-Cheng Hsiao, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Silvia Menegazzi is Assistant Professor in International Relations and Asian Studies at the Department of Political Science, Luiss Guido Carli University.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivan-zaccagnini-8b8aa71ba

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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